Getting Ready! July1st Canada Day!

Wolverhampton celebrates Canada Day

Wolverhampton will be celebrating its links with Canada by marking Canada Day on Monday July 1, 2013. It is thought to be the only UK city outside London to be doing so.

Wolverhampton City Council’s All Party Canada Group has arranged for the Canadian flag to fly over the Civic Centre and visitors will be invited to sign a book of commemoration.

The Group’s organiser, Canadian-born Cllr Phil Bateman MBE, believed Wolverhampton was the only city in England to be marking the day. “Canada is one of the great democracies and trading nations of the world and here in Wolverhampton we recognise the benefits to our city’s culture and trade of forging closer links. We’re delighted to mark this day by showing our friendship and commitment to a country we admire.”

The city enjoys trading links with construction and advanced engineering sectors through Wolverhampton-based companies Carillion and UTC.

The marking of the day follows the visit to the city earlier this year by the Canadian High Commissioner Gordon Campbell who met leaders of the council, university and local and regional businesses. As a result of that visit, the High Commissioner will return to the city in September to the Canada Show hosted by the Black Country Chamber.

ENDS

Note to editors:

1/ A photograph accompanies this press release. The caption is as follows: Getting ready to mark Canada Day on July 1, 2013 are: All Party Canada Group Organiser Councillor Philip Bateman MBE, Deputy Leader of the Council Councillor Peter Bilson, Shadow Opposition Leader of the Council Councillor Neville Patten, Councillor Mrs Wendy Thompson and Councillor Jasbinder Kaur Dehar.

2/ The organiser of the All Party Canada Group is Councillor Phil Bateman MBE, representing Wednesfield North. He was born in Montreal, Quebec Canada;

Formed in July 2012, the group comprises: Councillors Arun Photay, Mrs Wendy Thompson, Mike Hardacre, Rita Potter, Keith Inston, Peter Bilson, Neville Paton, Jas Dehar, Jasbinder Kaur Dehar and Tersaim Singh.

3/ Canada has a birthday on July 1, a national holiday in Canada that is celebrated with family picnics, barbeques and fireworks. On July 1, 1867, the British government approved a plan which allowed Canada to become an independent country with its own government. This new nation, which remained loyal to Britain, was called the Dominion of Canada. At that time, the new Dominion of Canada had only four provinces (Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick). These days, there are 10 provinces and 3 territories.